On Apr 23, 1:56 am, nimbusgb wrote:
On 22 Apr, 14:13, "kirk.stant" wrote:



Buy the biggest you can fit!

Powersonic has a 9 AH in same format as 7.2

Then add more batteries, they are cheap, lost instruments are
dangerous, lost OLC logs are maddening!

From experience.... now running 3 batteries..... saves me adding water
ballast! ;-)

Bob

AMEN!

My solution was to split the cockpit into two electrical busses, each
with it's own 9AH battery. Either side can fail and I have enough
"stuff" to get home (or finish a race...). Can also gang the busses
so either battery can power all the cockpit.

I have 3 batteries, one is always on the charger, and rotate the ones
from the flight every evening - so I always have 2 fully charged
batteries every flight. No special connectors on the batteries, so
any standard size 7 - 9 AH "brick" with spade connectors will fit, if
necessary.

It's worked so far (8 years and counting...).

I see there are some new technology batteries coming on the market for
gliders (in S&G?) - maybe we are about to move on from our beloved
lead bricks!

Kirk
66

I replaced my lead acid 7 ah brick with a NiMh pack made up by a
supplier. The result is a pack that fits into the same battery holder
slot, is 30% lower in height, 50% lighter, runs at 14v nominal and
has a 9 Ah capacity. It was so succesfull that I replaced the second
15 ah battery used to raise and lower the turbo with a similar pack
but of only 12ah but saving 7kg.

One other advantage is that they use a purpose built microprocessor
controlled charger that ensures they are fully charged and ready to go
even when left permanently connected.

Same here, 10Ah NiMh battery dedicated to the transponder, two 5Ah
packs for the instruments (one in the tail). Charger is putting out
2A and takes only about 2-4h after a normal day of flying to replenish
the batteries. I built the packs myself from cells with tabs and paid
only $80 for the large 10Ah pack, half of that for each of the small
ones. No more lead-acid batteries! The weight savings mentioned by
nimbusgb might be a bit aggressive, I'd say NiMh is about 60% lighter
than the same lead-acid capacity battery.
Herb